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In 2014, astronomers using the Pan-STARRS telescope in Hawaii discovered an asteroid doing something strange: orbiting the Sun clockwise, unlike all the planets and most asteroids in the solar system, which orbit counter-clockwise. The object shares a similar orbit to Jupiter’s – similar, that is, except for its “retrograde” direction of motion.

Hardware upgrades at Parkes enable faster surveys of the sky. Disk and bulge of our Milky Way Galaxy to be scanned in unprecedented detail. Over 60 days’ total observing time to be dedicated to the search for technologically advanced life beyond Earth.

All at the Breakthrough Foundation were deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Stephen Hawking, winner of the 2013 Special Breakthrough Prize in Fundamental Physics, as well as cherished partner of the Breakthrough Initiatives.

No evidence of artificial signals emanating from the object so far detected by the Green Bank Telescope, but monitoring and analysis continue. Initial data are available for public inspection in the Breakthrough Listen archive.

Green Bank Telescope observations of a dwarf galaxy three billion light years away reveal 15 bursts of radio emission. This is the first time bursts from this source have been seen at these frequencies.

$100 million research and engineering program will seek proof of concept for using light beam to propel gram-scale ‘nanocraft’ to 20 percent of light speed. A possible fly-by mission could reach Alpha Centauri within about 20 years of its launch. Mark Zuckerberg is joining the board.